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THE DIVERTING HISTORY 
OF JOHN GILPIN 



THE 



Btberttng ^tstor^ 

OF 

Shewing how he went further 

than he intended, and came 

safe home again 

Embellish'd with woodcuts drawn 
and engraved by Robert Seaver 




BOSTON & NEW YORK 

Houghton Mifflin & Company 

The Riverside Press, Cambridge 
Mdccccvi 



LIB«AFfYof C0N6RKSS 
Two Conies Received 

JUN 30 1906 

n Copyright Entry 
/l^LASS U^ XXc. No, 
COPY B. 



COPYRIGHT 1906 BY ROBERT SEAVER 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



TO 

i^amet B^aiton ^eaber 

FOR WHOSE AMUSEMENT THE WORK 

WAS BEGUN AND WHOSE 

ENTHUSIASM INSPIRED 

ITS COMPLETION 




THE DIVERTING HISTORY 
OF JOHN GILPIN 



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THE 

Bibertittg ^istorp 

OF 

John Gilpin was a citizen 

Of credit and renown, 

A trainband captain eke was 

he 
Of famous London town. 

II 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




John Gilpin's spouse said to her 

dear, 
"Though wedded we have been 
These twice ten tedious years, 

yet we 
No holiday have seen. 



Tomorrow is our wedding day, 
And we will then repair 
Unto the Bell at Edmonton, 
All in a chaise and pair. 

12 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




My sister, and my sister's child, 
Myself, and children three. 
Will fill the chaise, so you must 

ride 
On horseback after we." 



He soon replied, " I do admire 

Of womankind but one, 

And you are she, my dearest 

dear. 
Therefore it shall be done. 

13 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




I am a linendraper bold, 
As all the world doth know, 
And my good friend the calender 
Will lend his horse to go." 



Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, "That's well 

said; 
And for that wine is dear, 
We will be furnished with our 

own, 
Which is both bright and clear." 
14 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




John Gilpin kissed his loving wife, 
O'erjoyed was he to find, 
That though on pleasure she was 

bent. 
She had a frugal mind. 



The morning came, the chaise 

was brought. 
But yet was not allowed 
To drive up to the door, lest all 
Should say that she was proud. 

15 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




So three doors off the chaise was 

stayed, 
Where they did all get in ; 
Six precious souls, and all agog 
To dash through thick and thin. 



Smack went the whip, round 

went the wheels, 
Were never folk so glad ; 
The stones did rattle underneath 
As if Cheapside were mad. 
i6 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




John Gilpin at his horse's side 
Seized fast the flowing mane, 
And up he got, in haste to ride, 
But soon came down again; 



For saddle-tree scarce reached 

had he. 
His journey to begin. 
When, turning round his head, 

he saw 
Three customers come in. 

17 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




So down he came; for loss of time, 
Although it grieved him sore, 
Yet loss of pence, full well he 

knew, 
Would trouble him much more. 



'Twas long before the customers 

Were suited to their mind, 

When Betty screaming came 

down stairs, — 

"The wine is left behind!" 
i8 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




"Good lack!" quoth he, "yet 

bring it me, 
My leathern belt likewise, 
In which I bear my trusty sword 
When I do exercise." 

Now Mrs. Gilpin, careful soul, 
Had two stone bottles found. 
To hold the liquor that she 

loved. 
And keep it safe and sound. 

19 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




Each bottle had a curling ear, 
Through which the belt he 

drew, 
And hung a bottle on each side, 
To make his balance true. 



Then over all, that he might be 

Equipped from top to toe, 

His long red cloak, well brushed 

and neat. 
He manfully did throw. 

20 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




Now see him mounted once 

again, 
Upon his nimble steed, 
Full slowly pacing o'er the stones 
With caution and good heed. 



But finding soon a smoother 

road 
Beneath his well-shod feet, j 

The snorting beast began to trot, 
Which galled him in his seat. 

21 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




So "Fair and softly" John he 

cried, 
But John he cried in vain; 
That trot became a gallop soon, 
In spite of curb and rein. 



So stooping down, as needs he must 

Who cannot sit upright. 

He grasped the mane with both 

his hands. 
And eke with all his might. 

22 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




His horse, who never in that sort 
Had handled been before, 
What thing upon his back had 

got 
Did wonder more and more. 



Away went Gilpin, neck or 

nought ; 
Away went hat and wig; 
He little dreamed when he set out 
Of running such a rig. 

23 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




The wind did blow, the cloak did 

fly. 

Like streamer long and gay, 
Till, loop and button failing both, 
At last it flew away. 



Then might all people well dis- 
cern. 
The bottles he had slung; 
A bottle swinging at each side, 
As hath been said or sung. 
24 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




The dogs did bark, the children 

screamed, 
Up flew the windows all, 
And every soul cried out '* Well 

done!" 
As loud as he could bawl. 



Away went Gilpin — who but he? 
His fame soon spread around ; 
" He carries weight, he rides a race ! 
'Tis for a thousand pound!" 

25 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




And still, as fast as he drew 

near, 
'Twas wonderful to view, 
H o w in a trice the turnpike men 
Their gates wide open threw. 



And now, as he went bowing 

down 
His reeking head full low. 
The bottles twain behind his back 
Were shattered at a blow. 
26 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




Down ran the wine into the road, 
Most piteous to be seen, 
Which made his horse's flanks 

to smoke. 
As they had basted been. 



But still he seemed to carry 

weight, 
With leathern girdle braced ; 
For all might see the bottle necks 
Still dangling at his waist. 

27 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




Thus all through merry Isling- 
ton 
These gambols he did play, 
Until he came unto the Wash 
Of Edmonton so gay ; 



And there he threw the Wash 

about, 
On both sides of the way. 
Just like unto a trundling mop, 
Or a wild goose at play. 
28 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




At Edmonton his loving wife 

From the balcony spied 

Her tender husband, wondering 

much 
To see how he did ride. 



" Stop, stop, John Gilpin ! Here's 

the house!" 
They all at once did cry ; 
"The dinner waits and we are tired." 

Said Gilpin, **Soam I!" 

29 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




liQIi 



IMlimaJfesaiL 



But yet his horse was not a whit 

Inclined to tarry there ; 

For why? his owner had a 

house 
Full ten miles off, at Ware. 



So like an arrow swift he flew, 

Shot by an archer strong; 

So did he fly — which brings me 

to 
The middle of my song. 
30 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




Away went Gilpin, out of 

breath, 
And sore against his will, 
Till, at his friend the calender's, 
His horse at last stood still. 



The calender, amazed to see 
His neighbour in such trim. 
Laid down his pipe, flew to the 

gate. 
And thus accosted him : 

31 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




"What news? what news? your 

tidings tell ; 
Tell me you must and shall ; 
Say why bareheaded you are 

come, 
Or why you come at all? " 



Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, 
And loved a timely joke; 
And thus unto the calender, 
In merry guise, he spoke: 
32 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




*' I came because your horse 

would come ; 
And, if I well forebode, 
My hat and wig will soon be 

here : — 
They are upon the road." 

The calender, right glad to find 
His friend in merry pin. 
Returned him not a single word, 
But to the house went in; 

33 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




Whence straight he came with 

hat and wig; 
A wig that flowed behind, 
A hat not much the worse for 

wear, 
Each comely in its kind. 



He held them up and in his turn 
Thus showed his ready wit: 
** My head is twice as big as yours, 
They therefore needs must fit. 
34 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




But let me scrape the dirt away 
That hangs upon your face; 
And stop and eat, for well you 

may 
Be in a hungry case." 

Said John, "It is my wedding 

day. 
And all the world would stare, 
If wife should dine at Edmonton 
And I should dine at Ware." 

35 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




So turning to his horse he said, 

"I am in haste to dine; 

'Twas for your pleasure you 

came here, 
You shall go back for mine." 

Ah ! luckless speech and bootless 

boast, 
For which he paid full dear ; 
For while he spake, a braying ass 
Did sing most loud and clear; 
36 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




Whereat his horse did snort, 

as he 
Had heard a lion roar, 
And galloped off with all his 

might, 
As he had done before. 



Away went Gilpin, and away 
Went Gilpin's hat and wig: 
He lost them sooner than at first ; 
For why? — they were too big. 

37 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




Now mistress Gilpin, when she 

saw 
Her husband posting down 
Into the country far away, 
She pulled out half-a-crown ; 



And thus unto the youth she said. 
That drove them to the Bell, 
"This shall be yours when you 

bring back 
My husband safe and well." 
38 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




The youth did ride, and soon did 

meet 
John coming back amain ; 
Whom in a trice he tried to stop 
By catching at his rein ; 

But not performing what he meant 
And gladly would have done, 
The frighted steed he frighted 

more, 
And made him faster run. 

39 



THE DIVERTING HISTORY 




Away went Gilpin, and away 
Went postboy at his heels, 
The postboy's horse right glad 

to miss 
The lumbering of the wheels. 

Six gentlemen upon the road, 

Thus seeing Gilpin fly, 

With postboy scampering in the 

rear. 
They raised the hue and cry; — 
40 



OF JOHN GILPIN 




"Stop thief! stop thief ! a high- 
wayman!" 

Not one of them was mute; 

And all and each that passed that 
way 

Did join in the pursuit. 



And now the turnpike gates again 
Flew open in short space; 
The toll-men thinking as before, 
That Gilpin rode a race. 

41 



JOHN GILPIN 




And so he did, and won it too, 

For he got first to town ; 

Nor stopped till where he had 

got up 
He did again get down. 



/ 



Now let us sing long live the 

King, 
And Gilpin, long live he ; 
And when he next doth ride abroad 
May I be there to see ! 
42 



ADDITIONAL VERSES 
AND NOTES 



ADDITIONAL VERSES 
AND NOTES 

The story of John Gilpin's ride 
was related to Cowper by his 
friend, Lady Austen, who had 
heard it as a child. It caused 
the poet a sleepless night, as he 
was kept awake by laughter at 
it. During these restless hours 
he turned it into the famous bal- 
lad. It appeared in the ''Public 
Advertiser," November 14, 1782, 
anonymously. 

A celebrated actor named Hen- 
derson took it for one of his 

45 



ADDITIONAL VERSES 

public recitations at Freemasons' 
Hall. It became immediately 
so popular that it was printed 
everywhere, — in newspapers, 
magazines, and separately. It 
was even sung as a common 
ballad in the streets. It has pre- 
served its popularity to the pre- 
sent day. 

The original John Gilpin was, it 
is said, a Mr. Beyer, a linen- 
draper, who lived at the Cheap- 
side corner of Paternoster Row. 
He died in 1791, at the age of 
nearly a hundred years. 
The following matter appears in 
Moore's Book of Ballads, pub- 

46 



AND NOTES 



lished by Bell and Daldy, i86, 
Fleet Street, and 6, York Street, 
Covent Garden, London. 

[" In Hone's * Table Book,' ii, 79, 
the following stanzas are stated to have 
been found, in the handwriting of Cow- 
per, among the papers of Mrs. Unwin. 
In the opinion of Mr. Hone's corre- 
spondent, they evidently formed part 
of an intended episode to the Divert- 
ing History of John Gilpin. They are 
not given in any edition of the poet's 
works."] 

Then Mrs. Gilpin sweetly said 
Unto her children three 
*' I'll clamber o'er this style so high 
And you climb after me," 

But having climbed unto the top 

She could no further go, 
But sate, to every passer by 

A spectacle and show : 



47 



ADDITIONAL VERSES 

Who said, Your spouse and you this 
day 

Both show your horsemanship ; 
And if you stay till he comes back 

Your horse will need no whip. 



